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The Punisher #16 Review

What will happen when Frank follows his leads to Washington? Read on to find out.

The official description from Marvel:

MR. CASTLE GOES TO WASHINGTON!

• Frank follows the trail of corruption all the way to the nation’s capital!
• With the Punisher on a government hit list, has Frank walked into the lion’s den?
• Can the Punisher find the man pulling the strings?

The Punisher has been seriously put to the test throughout this series, as between fighting the Dos Sols, Electro and the Howling Commandos, the odds have definitely not been in his favor. This remains true as we enter the series sixteenth issue, with Frank’s investigation into the “true threat” leading him to none other than Washington D.C. This ultimately results in Frank getting himself involved in some shady business, proving that no one can escape the punishment of the Punisher.

Nathan Edmondson has been doing a stellar job on this series, as even though there’s still a small part of me that’s bitter about how former writer, Greg Rucka, left the character, that in no way is a reflection on the current. Giving a thoroughly gripping series of developments, Edmondson continues to build upon his mysterious tale, with the criminal elements getting stretched further, and the Punisher getting explored more deeper. Despite this, I did find the dialogue to be a little off putting, as though there were some fabulous moments, there were too many that felt disengaging.

Mitch Gerads has proven himself to be perfectly suited to the world of the Punisher, as though my initial reaction to the artist’s early work was a little indifferent, it has certainly turned positive over the numerous issues that have followed. This flows into the latest installment, with the way Gerads captures the tone, and energy of Frank’s “war” being truly captivating. He also manages to give a gritty atmosphere, with the layouts being intense throughout. His colours also manage to add extra depth, with the dark, yet immersive palette certainly catching the eye.

The Punisher continues to be a worthy addition to anyone’s pull list, as whether you’re a long time fan like myself, or just thinking of getting into the comics after watching the films, this series is a perfect place to get introduced to the character. The crime elements also make it a brilliant comic for fans of thrillers, as despite there being some slow patches, the tension more than makes up.